For many folks, the current atmosphere has created a feeling of being on hold. We feel our lives have been paused. Plans for vacations, graduations, blissful events such as weddings, baptisms, bar and bat mitzvahs, baby showers as well as meeting and greeting our newborns not only have been cancelled but do not have a definitive reschedule date
As a Mental Health Practitioner, I have been observing what this stalled life has meant for our collective and individual psyches.
UNCERTAINTY
First and foremost, CoVid19 is about how we deal with the unknown. Almost universally every single aspect of our daily lives has been disrupted from simple life tasks like going to the grocery store, to more complex financial, employment, relationships, and insurance issues. Mental Health experts have long advised the most solid approach to living life is Mindfulness. Living in the moment in the here and now is the most effective way to live. This strategy is especially useful during crises, like this current pandemic.
ANTICIPATORY ANXIETY
The kissing cousin of Uncertainty is the tendency in novel situations to predict a worst-case scenario and create a negative fantasy of life past the pandemic. This type of thinking must be challenged by both images and thoughts. Seeing the world as a positive force again as well
as challenging negative thoughts are most helpful.
REASSESSMENT
It is most important to reassess during this time our core values, such as what is important and necessary in our lives. At the end of the pandemic do you have the work-life balance you want? Have you paid the right amount of attention to family members and friends? Most importantly have you lived your life protecting your value as well as assets. Many folks are panicked during this time when we see daily on the media how fragile life can be for us. This creates a mad rush to review our wills and medical directives. We all need to make a commitment to periodically update our affairs.
We also need to assess if working “under the table” will be viable as it disallows us to collect benefits when we most require it.
USEFUL TOOLS TO INCREASE COPING
- Limit exposure to media stories about the crisis we are facing. Watch no more than a half hour, just to be informed
- Find balance by telling a positive story of neighbors helping each other or someone going out of their way for someone else. Acknowledge all the clerks and servers keeping a good food chain for us
- Have a daily meditation of gratitude. During times of restriction we tend to focus away from what we still have in our lives
- Stick to whatever part of your routine that is possible such as wake up time and bedtime. Shop once a week if that is what you typically did. Keep your children on as much of a mealtime and bedtime schedule as you can
- Try to counter feelings of being overwhelmed with resources. Keep a handy list of resources of physicians, clergy, attorneys, as well as creditors whom you may need to make arrangements that will not harm your credit rating
- Stay busy. Offer to do a kind gesture for someone less fortunate than you
- Practice as many habits of health as you can such as good food choices, walking, moving, restful sleep and maintaining social connections
- Watch and observe your mood. Do you start every day telling your family members your fears and anxieties? If so, make a solid commitment to change topics to upbeat ones as family members tend to “catch our moods”
- If you should feel your anxiety or depression has intensified reach out to your Primary Care Physician or Spiritual Counselor or contact your Community Mental Health Facility. Staying connected and using resources is your best weapon against this Pandemic.